The grand plan for Catzpaws ... can it be done?

Catzpaws

I had an interesting, heartfelt conversation with OH last night. We were talking about budgets in the pub (how romantic!) and he said that he didn’t like using the joint account card to pay for things like meals and that he also wanted to use cash, not cards, when out. I told him that, provided that it was budgeted for, I had no problems with using the card at all. And, besides, it was all ‘our’ money now – rather than his/mine. These comments then turned into a big long conversation about how he always felt under pressure to pay for things. Perhaps ‘pressure’ is the wrong way to describe it. Actually, he feels that his paying for meals, drinks out etc. for us is his bargaining chip – or his way of smoothing over things when the going gets tough…
In a way, I’m glad that we’re now being a more honest about this kind of stuff with each other. But, at the same time, I realise he now feels a bit disempowered…maybe like he’s not being ‘The Man’… IYKWIM? It’s a complex thing: money and relationships…!
Anyway, from serious stuff to day-to-day MSE…
- Done daily scratch cards
- Do weekly shop at Aldi - £30 budget
- Sort out meal plan
- Drink 8 x water (thanks for the reminder, Missy!)
- Run 5K

ZiggyStardust_2

It's good that you're being honest with each other, I think money can cause so many problems in relationships if couples don't talk about it.

Do you go running most days? I wish I had the motivation!

Catzpaws

ZiggyStardust wrote: »

It's good that you're being honest with each other, I think money can cause so many problems in relationships if couples don't talk about it.

Do you go running most days? I wish I had the motivation!

I've been thinking today of the best solution for the issue. What I've decided to do is to give OH the 'entertainment' cash budget each month. Hopefully, this will help him to get more involved more in the budgeting - which might make him feel a bit more empowered about this whole thing. And, he can choose to pay with cash if he wants. So... we'll see...

I go running about once a week at the moment! So, definitely not most days!! OH and I used to be members of great, but pricey gym. Then, to save money, we moved to the small council gym. Then, to save money again, we cancelled that membership and took up road running/exercising at home. Then, we got a dog, and the whole money saving thing went to pot! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Catzpaws

[STRIKE]- Done daily scratch cards [/STRIKE] 20p up- yippee!
[STRIKE]- Do weekly shop at Aldi - £30 budget[/STRIKE] They didn't have half the stuff I wanted so only spent £16.22 in the end. Short on veg but going to try and see if we can last until Thursday.
- [STRIKE] Sort out meal plan
[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]- Drink 8 x water (thanks for the reminder, Missy!)[/STRIKE] Done!
[STRIKE]- Run 5K[/STRIKE] Done!

Also, have 4 x jacket potatoes in oven for lunches this week. Will be accompanied by Branston Beans - 79p for 4 tins in Morrisons - fab deal.

Lemon_Tree

i'm sure the only healthy thing i ever do regularly is drink water but that's probably because it's almost the only thing i drink.

Catzpaws

My plans for today are to:

- Have a NSD
- Drink 8 x water
- Take dog for 60-90 min walk - exercise for both of us and chance to practice a bit of training!
- Make naan bread for tomorrow's curry (freeze half)
- Make a big batch of red lentils for freezer
- Clean bathroom
- Stay off Internet tonight and watch The Wire together with OH (he thinks I'm being very antisocial with my laptop in the evenings!)

Lemon_Tree

sorry just read your question about the exploding box of love.
I scrapbook so i make a plus shaped sign with 3 different papers of decreasing sizes, these then fold up to make a box and you make a lid for it (think cube, but with two smaller ones stuck inside). you then decorate each page with messages of love or photo's or some such stuff. I then stuck a heart shape onto wire and attached it to the bottom of the box on the inside so it stands up and wobbles when the lid is taken off.

ZiggyStardust_2

Me and hubby used to go to an expensive gym but didn't go as much as we should have done to justify the money... was about £135 a month :eek: I have an airwalker now! Did try jogging but really hurt my shins. Want to try again though!

Catzpaws

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

sorry just read your question about the exploding box of love.
I scrapbook so i make a plus shaped sign with 3 different papers of decreasing sizes, these then fold up to make a box and you make a lid for it (think cube, but with two smaller ones stuck inside). you then decorate each page with messages of love or photo's or some such stuff. I then stuck a heart shape onto wire and attached it to the bottom of the box on the inside so it stands up and wobbles when the lid is taken off.

What a great creative idea. He must have loved the effort that went into this.

I've bought crafty things before to make Christmas cards but ended up going a bit overboard in Hobbycraft - ended up spending a small fortune! Not money saving (wasn't on that path at that point), but family and friends loved them!

Catzpaws

ZiggyStardust wrote: »

Me and hubby used to go to an expensive gym but didn't go as much as we should have done to justify the money... was about £135 a month :eek: I have an airwalker now! Did try jogging but really hurt my shins. Want to try again though!

I've been toying with the idea of buying a second-hand exercise bike as I did enjoy using these in the gym (using an ipod workout that takes you through a spinning type session) and did see good results. But, I don't like th idea of it taking up loads of room in the spare bedroom. Where do you put your airwalker?

If you're thinking of retrying jogging, it might be a good idea to a proper running shop (with a treadmill machine where they can analyse your gait) to get advice. I have specific trainers for my problematic feet and they cured any pains I had when I first took up more jogging outdoors. :j